• Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts access private forums and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your eGriz.com experience today!

Montana State Bobcats scouting report

One thing that gives me hope. UC Davis shot themselves in the foot a thousand times that game and still had some success.
What scares me is the cats did not play well the first half and still ran away with it. Their offense was out of sorts and the linebackers had a tough time against the read option. They fixed it in the second half. What also scares me is the cats do not do anything fancy on defense yet still dominate. No exotic blitz packages...they mainly swap between quarters coverage, cover six, and the Tampa 2. They will play match zone occasionally, but mainly play a simple brand of defense. This allows their guys to think less and play faster. Their corners play with good eyes, love to tackle, and have good recovery speed.

There is plenty that doesn't scare me. I will say the biggest defensive weakness I have seen from watching their games is their linebackers biting hard on the run and being too shallow on their zone drops. The middle of the field is open A LOT of the time. Their safeties play aggressive too and oftentimes get caught with their pants down in a wash along the line of scrimmage. Their offensive line is nowhere near what it was last season either. Run blocking has been average at best all season. Their QB almost always struggles at the beginning of games. This plays right into the meat grinder that is the crowd at WaGriz. I know it has been stated many times already, but if the Griz jump out to a two score lead in this game, it could get UGLY like two years ago.
 
This game has me very nervous. I can’t help but feel like the strengths don’t match. We need to neutralize the cat d line and we have not seen the Griz o line be what it needs to be all year. They have not faced an elite d line all year and have STRUGGLED against supposed inferior opponents (ISU anyone?). I’m just worried that KAY is going to be running for his life all day taking shots.

I have zero faith that Bobby and Pease won’t go all game manage-y and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We saw them call a fully aggressive game only once, and once does not a pattern make. I have zero faith that they won’t turtle up for some inexplicable reason like they have done for years. Bobby said he’s done some soul searching about offensive philosophy, but has he really? I can’t help but think they will revert if stressed.
If we continue to run it up the middle on first down when the Cats have loaded the box, I think I will spontaneously combust. Just hope I don't hurt anyone sitting near me.
 
If we continue to run it up the middle on first down when the Cats have loaded the box, I think I will spontaneously combust. Just hope I don't hurt anyone sitting near me.
Same but I understand why they keep doing it. When everyone is on the line, if Eli can get through the initial scrum then beyond that he usually only has one person to beat and there's a wide open field in front of him. But it's understandably frustrating when he's not breaking through at least occasionally.
 
Same but I understand why they keep doing it. When everyone is on the line, if Eli can get through the initial scrum then beyond that he usually only has one person to beat and there's a wide open field in front of him. But it's understandably frustrating when he's not breaking through at least occasionally.
I don't see that happening against this Bobcat defense. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result......
 
I don't see that happening against this Bobcat defense. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result......
I actually think it *might* look a bit different this week. Most other teams had to load the box against the Montana run game because they were terrified of Eli. They sold out to stop the run which led to openings in the passing game. However it seems like the cats probably think they can shut down (or at least minimize) the run game with their base package and maybe won't try to load the box, which *might* mean the Montana run game has better success this week than they have recently. *If* The Griz offense can get ahead of the chains on first and second downs then they will be in a better position than they have in recent games and won't need to rely on so many explosive plays. It's all a chess game and we will see who has the better plan on Saturday. I'm hoping and praying it's the Griz.
 
Believe it or not, I wrote this post BEFORE reading the last four posts about Eli.

One thing that has to be done is SOMEONE has to have both hands around Pease's neck from start to finish, and every time he calls for Gillman to rush the packed box, bitch slap him. Wake him up! Every team, and I mean EVERY TEAM since Game #1, has the Gillman factor figured out, yet, Pease calls Gillman to fall on the pile for no gain or a loss of three, time and time again. The definition of insanity.
 
Same but I understand why they keep doing it. When everyone is on the line, if Eli can get through the initial scrum then beyond that he usually only has one person to beat and there's a wide open field in front of him. But it's understandably frustrating when he's not breaking through at least occasionally.
Didn't he score two TD's Saturday? Including a 60 yard run where he did exactly what you describe?
 
Keep Dowler and Davis contained, put pressure on Lamson, and high decimal crowd noise will put msu in a tough spot on offense. On defense kittens will have their hands full with #3, #4, #6 #2 and whatever tight end is in the game. I have a lot of confidence Ah Yat will have a good game and do enough to win this one. I would be even more confident if #11 and #5 on defense were on the field.
Bert Scott (an accounting professor) once told me that sometimes statistics will tell you everything but the truth. That’s how I feel about this game. This one will come down to match ups and I feel we match up good with the kittens. I’m sure the offensive line will be fine. We just need to start without a hitch!
At home :
kittens………………………………24
Montana Grizzlies…………………31

Go Griz!!

2 things:
1) I agree 100% with Professor Scott's take on statistics...perhaps the most meaningless way to "analyze" a game.
2) Agreed also with #3, #4, #6, & #2. That guy on offense who wears #10 is serviceable also. He might have a thing or two to say about the outcome.
 
Didn't he score two TD's Saturday? Including a 60 yard run where he did exactly what you describe?
Yes against Portland State. And as 1983 said, we're not playing Portland State this weekend. However the game plan against the cats could work in a different way which is what I was trying to say earlier. I don't know that we'll see the cats loading the box against Eli which might mean that he doesn't get those big long breakaway runs but also might mean that he gets more consistent short yardage plays which actually would make Bobby very happy and might work just as well into the Montana game plan.
 
Believe it or not, I wrote this post BEFORE reading the last four posts about Eli.

One thing that has to be done is SOMEONE has to have both hands around Pease's neck from start to finish, and every time he calls for Gillman to rush the packed box, bitch slap him. Wake him up! Every team, and I mean EVERY TEAM since Game #1, has the Gillman factor figured out, yet, Pease calls Gillman to fall on the pile for no gain or a loss of three, time and time again. The definition of insanity.
You do realize that he leads the conference in rushing, and is going for over 6 YPC right now, right? And that Pease's offense is putting up 42 ppg?
 
Back
Top